Abdominal exercise system and method

ABSTRACT

An abdominal exercise system including an isometric flex-board and a rear-support. The isometric flex-board includes an exterior-surface and an interior-surface, a right-side, and a left-side; with the left-side and the right-side each including slot-openings. The rear-support includes an outside-surface, an inside surface, a left-portion, and a right-portion; with the left-portion and the right-portion each including adjustment-straps that are insertable into the slot-openings on the right-side and the left-side of the isometric flex-board to removably couple the rear-support and the isometric flex-board together and provide adjustability to the abdominal exercise system for a user. The isometric flex-board and the rear-support, when coupled together, are wearable about an abdominal area of the user to provide resistance to the abdominal area to provide a muscle exercise to the user by the user flexing the abdominal area against the resistance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art nor material to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of exerciseequipment of existing art and more specifically relates to exerciseequipment for use on the abdomen.

RELATED ART

Abdominal exercises are those that affect the abdominal muscles whichalso may be referred to stomach muscles and/or abs and abdominalexercises are generally useful for strengthening and toning theabdominal muscles. Such strengthening and toning is useful for improvingperformance with certain sports, reducing back pain, and forwithstanding abdominal impacts. It has been disputed whether abdominalexercises actually reduce the amount of abdominal fat, however, animproved posture and tighter abdominal cavity is often associated with asmaller abdominal size. Commonly a large abdomen may be attributed todiastasis recti.

Diastasis recti can be defined as a gap between the two sides of therectus abdominis muscle, which may create a protruded abdominal area.Diastasis recti may appear as a ridge running down the midline of theabdomen, anywhere from the xiphoid process to the umbilicus. It maybecome more prominent with straining and can disappear when theabdominal muscles become relaxed. Abdominal exercise aids in thedecrease of the diastasis recti, however, many individuals may not havethe time or means to specifically exercise such muscles.

A major limitation associated with abdominal exercise is that it oftenrequires a user to be present at a health club or gym to use andmaintain specific equipment. Also, much equipment is often cumbersomeand/or bulky. Another limitation is that the use of much of theavailable abdominal exercise equipment requires the user to dedicatetime and space to abdominal exercise. Therefore, a suitable solution isdesired. Electronic devices that stimulate the abdominal area byelectric current are available, but often times such devices can bepainful and difficult to maintain.

U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0066462 to Cohen relates to an exercise belt forstomach muscles. The described exercise belt for stomach musclesincludes a mechanical device for stimulating stomach muscles, the devicecomprising a belt-like element sized to be worn with a section thereofadjacent the stomach muscles of the wearer, the belt being associatedwith a motor and a power element for driving the motor, the motor beingmechanically linked to means for intermittently tensioning at least thesection to repeatedly intermittently press against the stomach musclesof the wearer in order to stimulate the muscles to contract as areaction and in anticipation of the repeated intermittent contact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known exerciseequipment art, the present disclosure provides a novel abdominalexercise system and method. The general purpose of the presentdisclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, isto provide an efficient and effective abdominal exercise system andmethod.

An abdominal exercise system is disclosed herein. The abdominal exercisesystem includes an isometric flex-board, and a rear-support-belt,preferably the isometric flex-board is oval in shape and is configuredto fit a user's body. The isometric flex-board includes anexterior-surface and an interior-surface, a right-side, and a left-side;with the left-side and the right-side each including slot-openings and aplurality of apertures, with the slot-openings configured to allowvertical movement of the front-support. Also, the isometric flex-boardis preferably constructed from a polycarbonate material. Therear-support-belt includes an outside-surface, an inside surface, aleft-portion, and a right-portion; with the left-portion and theright-portion each including adjustment-straps that are insertable intothe slot-openings on the right-side and the left-side of the isometricflex-board to removably couple the rear-support-belt and the isometricflex-board together and provide adjustability to the abdominal exercisesystem for the user to produce an isometric abdominal exercise.

The isometric flex-board and the rear-support-belt, when coupledtogether, are wearable about an abdominal area of the user, with anorientation between the belly button and rib cage of the user, toprovide resistance to the abdominal area to provide a muscle exercise tothe user by the user flexing the abdominal area against the resistance.

The adjustment-straps are constructed from a non-elastic materialconfigured to be placed upon a back of the user such that theadjustment-straps are concealable under an article of clothing upon use.The adjustment-straps also and include a hook-and-loop fastener toprovide adjustability in relation to the isometric flex-board. Also, theadjustment-straps are removably adjustable in relation to therear-support-belt.

The isometric flex-board includes a plurality of front-aperturesconfigured to increase airflow, comfort, and produce the desiredflexibly without decreasing the structural integrity of the isometricflex-board during use. Similarly, the rear-support-belt includes aplurality of rear-apertures configured to increase airflow and comfortduring use. Further, the interior-surface of the isometric flex-boardand the inside-surface of the rear-support-belt preferably includes amoisture wicking material.

According to another embodiment, a method of using an abdominal exercisesystem is also disclosed herein. The method of using an abdominalexercise system includes a first step, providing an abdominal exercisesystem; a second step, placing the system around an abdominal area of auser; a third step, adjusting adjustments-straps of the system to fitthe user; a fourth step, providing resistance to the system by the userby flexing abdominal muscles; and a fifth step, removing the system fromthe abdominal area of the user.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages,and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is tobe understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achievedin accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, anabdominal exercise system and method, constructed and operativeaccording to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the abdominal exercise system,according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front side view of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear side view of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top side view of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the isometric flex-board and therear-support-belt of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the isometric flex-board and therear-support-belt of the abdominal exercise system of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using an abdominalexercise system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate toexercise equipment for the abdomen and more particularly to an abdominalexercise system and method as used to improve the means for exercisingby providing a device to exercise and tone the abdominal muscles of auser without the need for a gym, health club or bulky equipment. Thepresent invention is superior to other systems in that it effectivelyprovides adjustable back support during use to provide exercise toabdominal muscles for users of different sizes and/or shapes whileallowing the user to perform additional functions while exercising theabdominal muscles. Generally, by supporting the back, the abdominalexercise system helps to support the remainder of the body including themuscles in the stomach (i.e., abdominals). The abdominal exercise systemincludes size adjustability.

The arrangement of the size adjustment of the abdominal exercise systemallows a range of sizes to be accommodated. Ideally, embodiments of theabdominal exercise system may be available in multiple overall sizes toaccommodate very large or very small users; each main size wouldaccommodate many in-between-sizes of individual users. The abdominalexercise system may be constructed from thin, breathable cloth toprovide additional comfort to the user by the potential reduction ofsweating (by the user) and to allow the abdominal exercise system to beless intrusive.

Preferably, the abdominal exercise system would also ideally come innatural skin tone colors so it can be worn under normal, everyday,clothing. The front may be comprised of a hard plastic-material tomaintain tension on the user's abs; with a soft, thin, padding on thebackside to maintain comfort. Once the device is in place, the abdominalexercise system can be used by pushing stomach muscles outward and theelastic bands may create tension which stimulates and providesresistance to the abdominal muscles. This motion over time may allow theuser's abdominal to develop and reduce the user's waistline.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals ofreference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, various views of an abdominalexercise system 100.

FIGS. 1-7 show abdominal exercise system 100, according to an embodimentof the present disclosure. Here, abdominal exercise system 100 may bebeneficial for use by a user to exercise one's abdominals whileperforming other tasks. As illustrated, abdominal exercise system 100may include isometric flex-board 110, with isometric flex-board 110including exterior-surface 112, interior-surface 114, right-side 116,and left-side 118; with left-side 118 and right-side 116 each includingslot-openings 120, with slot-openings 120 configured to allow verticalmovement of isometric flex-board 110. Isometric flex-board 110 may be anoval-type shape configured to fit a user's body and in order to providethe desired flexibility and conform comfortably to the user. Abdominalexercise system is structured and arranged to produce an isometricabdominal exercise to a user.

Also included may be rear-support-belt 130, rear-support-belt 130including outside-surface 132, inside surface 134, left-portion 136, andright-portion 138; with left-portion 136 and right-portion 138 eachincluding adjustment-straps 140 that are insertable into slot-openings120 on right-side 116 and left-side 118 of isometric flex-board 110 toremovably couple rear-support 130 and isometric flex-board 110 togetherand provide adjustability to abdominal exercise system 100 for the user.Adjustment-straps 140 may be constructed from a non-elastic material,such that they may provide resistance, and configured to be placed uponthe back of the user such that adjustment-straps 140 are concealableunder an article of clothing upon use. Rear-support-belt 130 may furtherinclude patch 166 such that a logo or other similar images may beaffixed to rear-support-belt 130.

Isometric flex-board 110 and rear-support-belt 130, when coupledtogether, are wearable about an abdominal area of the user, with anorientation located between the belly button (i.e., navel) and the ribcage. Abdominal exercise system 100 may be wearable about the abdominalarea of the user to provide resistance to the abdominal area to providea muscle exercise to the user by the user flexing the abdominal areaagainst the resistance. Isometric flex-board 110 and rear-support-belt130, when coupled together, are wearable about then abdominal area ofuser to produce an isometric exercise for the user.

Isometric flex-board 110 and rear-support-belt 130 may be constructedfrom a foam material to improve comfort during use. Further, isometricflex-board 110 may include a plurality of front-apertures 162 configuredto increase airflow and comfort during use as well as producing thedesired flexibly without decreasing the structural integrity ofisometric flex-board 110; similarly, rear-support-belt 130 may include aplurality of rear-apertures 164 configured to increase airflow andcomfort during use. Interior-surface 114 of isometric flex-board 110 andinside-surface 134 of rear-support-belt 130 may include a moisturewicking material.

Isometric flex-board 110 and rear-support-belt 130 may each includeneoprene (or other suitable material) for comfort. Additionally,isometric flex-board 110 may be constructed from a semi-rigid-plasticmaterial (e.g., polycarbonate, etc.), in some embodiments. Alternateembodiments may include other materials, dependent upon user preferencesand manufacturability. As such, a polycarbonate material may be 3/16″,or other suitable thickness to provide the desired flexibility andrigidity. Also, each or either of isometric flex-board 110 and/orrear-support-belt 130 may include a removable and washable cover (notshown).

Adjustment-straps 140 may include a hook-and-loop fastener to provideadjustability in relation to isometric flex-board 110. Also,adjustment-straps 140 may be removably adjustable in relation torear-support-belt 130. Embodiments also include adjustment-straps 140that may be removable and replaceable. Additionally, adjustment-straps140 may include button fasteners to provide adjustability, in certainembodiments.

The system 100 may be constructed from flame-retardant materials, insome embodiments; other embodiments may include system 100 constructedfrom anti-fungal materials. Also, system 100 may be constructed from abody-tone colored material configured to be unnoticeable beneath anarticle of clothing.

According to one embodiment, abdominal exercise system 100 may bearranged as a kit 105. In particular, abdominal exercise system 100 mayfurther include a set of instructions 155. Instructions 155 may detailfunctional relationships in relation to the structure of abdominalexercise system 100 such that abdominal exercise system 100 can be used,maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using an abdominalexercise system 500, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In particular, method of using an abdominal exercise system500 may include one or more components or features of the abdominalexercise system 100 as described above. As illustrated, method of usingan abdominal exercise system 500 may include the steps of: step one 501,providing abdominal exercise system 100; step two 502, placing system100 around an abdominal area of a user; step three 503, adjustingadjustments-straps 140 of system 100 to fit the user; step four 504,providing resistance to system 100 by the user by flexing abdominalmuscles; and step five 505, removing system 100 from the abdominal areaof user.

It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of usecan be carried out in many different orders according to userpreference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “stepfor”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriatecircumstances, considering such issues as design preference, userpreferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods formethod of using an abdominal exercise system [NOTE: e.g., different steporders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certainsteps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.], aretaught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. An abdominal exercise system, thesystem comprising: an isometric flex-board, said isometric flex-boardincluding an oval-type shape configured to fit a user's body and anexterior-surface and an interior-surface, a right-side, and a left-side,with said left-side and said right-side each including slot-openings,and a plurality of apertures, said apertures configured to produce thedesired flexibly of said isometric flex-board without decreasingstructural integrity of said isometric flex-board, and saidslot-openings configured to allow vertical movement of said isometricflex-board; a rear-support-belt, said rear-support-belt including anoutside-surface, an inside surface, a left-portion, and a right-portion,with said left-portion and said right-portion each includingadjustment-straps that are insertable into said slot-openings on saidright-side and said left-side of said isometric flex-board to removablycouple said rear-support-belt and said isometric flex-board together andprovide adjustability to said abdominal exercise system for said user;wherein said adjustment-straps are constructed from an non-elasticmaterial configured to be placed upon a back of said user such that saidadjustment-straps are concealable under an article of clothing upon use;wherein said isometric flex-board and said rear-support-belt whencoupled together are wearable about an abdominal area of said user toproduce an isometric exercise for said user; and wherein said abdominalexercise system is wearable about said abdominal area with anorientation located between the belly button and the rib cage of saiduser provides resistance to said abdominal area to provide a muscleexercise to said user by said user flexing said abdominal area againstsaid resistance.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein saidadjustment-straps include a hook-and-loop fastener to provideadjustability in relation to said isometric flex-board.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said adjustment-straps are removably adjustable inrelation to said rear-support-belt.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid isometric flex-board and said rear-support-belt are constructedfrom a foam material to improve comfort during use.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said front-apertures of said isometric flex-board areconfigured to increase airflow and comfort during use.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said rear-support-belt includes a plurality ofrear-apertures configured to increase airflow and comfort during use. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein said isometric flex-board and saidrear-support-belt are covered in neoprene.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein said interior-surface of said isometric flex-board and saidinside-surface of said rear-support-belt include a moisture wickingmaterial.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said isometric flex-board isconstructed from a semi-rigid polycarbonate material.
 10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said isometric flex-board includes a removable andwashable cover.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein saidrear-support-belt includes a removable and washable cover.
 12. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said adjustment-straps are removable andreplaceable.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein said adjustment-strapsinclude button fasteners to provide adjustability.
 14. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said system is constructed from flame-retardantmaterials.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is constructedfrom a body-tone colored material configured to be unnoticeable beneathan article of clothing.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein said systemis constructed from anti-fungal materials.
 17. An abdominal exercisesystem, the system comprising: an isometric flex-board, said isometricflex-board including an oval-type shape configured to fit a user's bodyand an exterior-surface and an interior-surface, a right-side, and aleft-side, with said left-side and said right-side each includingslot-openings, and a plurality of apertures, said apertures configuredto produce the desired flexibly of said isometric flex-board withoutdecreasing structural integrity of said isometric flex-board, and saidslot-openings configured to allow vertical movement of said isometricflex-board; and a rear-support-belt, said rear-support-belt including anoutside-surface, an inside surface, a left-portion, and a right-portion,with said left-portion and said right-portion each includingadjustment-straps that are insertable into said slot-openings on saidright-side and said left-side of said isometric flex-board to removablycouple said rear-support-belt and said isometric flex-board together andprovide adjustability to said abdominal exercise system for said user;wherein said adjustment-straps are constructed from an non-elasticmaterial configured to be placed upon a back of said user such that saidadjustment-straps are concealable under an article of clothing upon use;wherein said isometric flex-board and said rear-support-belt whencoupled together are wearable about an abdominal area of said user toproduce an isometric exercise for said user; wherein said abdominalexercise system is wearable about said abdominal area with anorientation located between the belly button and the rib cage of saiduser provides resistance to said abdominal area to provide a muscleexercise to said user by said user flexing said abdominal area againstsaid resistance; wherein said adjustment-straps include a hook-and-loopfastener to provide adjustability in relation to said isometricflex-board; wherein said adjustment-straps are removably adjustable inrelation to said rear-support-belt; wherein said isometric flex-boardincludes a plurality of front-apertures to configured to increaseairflow and comfort during use; wherein said rear-support-belt includesa plurality of rear-apertures to configured to increase airflow andcomfort during use; and wherein said interior-surface of said isometricflex-board and said inside-surface of said rear-support-belt include amoisture wicking material.
 18. The system of claim 17, furthercomprising set of instructions; and wherein the system is arranged as akit.
 19. A method of using an abdominal exercise system, the methodcomprising the steps of: providing the abdominal exercise system;placing said abdominal exercise system around an abdominal area of auser; adjusting adjustments-straps of said abdominal exercise system tofit said user; and providing resistance to said abdominal exercisesystem by said user by flexing abdominal muscles.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising the steps of: removing said abdominalexercise system from said abdominal area of said user.